Yarn carrier for knitting machines



July 29, 1941. o, M N 2,250,972

YARN CARRIER FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 2, 1940 0 INVENTOR. I Otto ff'rrzazarza E y Y A z'f ozmzsi w Patented July 29, 1941 UHTED STATES PATENTR ,QFFICE 1 YARN'CARRIER FOR KNITTING MACHINES OttoF. Smetana, Concord, N. Application April 2 1940, serial No. 327,393 5 Claims. (01. 66126) This invention relates to a novel and improved form of yarn carrier for knitting machines, the novel features of which will be best understood from the following description and the annexed drawing, in which I have shown selected embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of part of a fullfashioned knitting machine showing my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a face view of part of a carrier shown on an enlarged scale and having one embodiment of the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the insert shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a different embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a section approximately on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a face view of a different embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a section approximately on the line l-lll of Fig. 9.

Referring first to Fig. 1, I have shown therein a carrier rod I having thereon a carrier 2 for laying yarn 3 which is to be knitted by the needles 4 of a full-fashioned knitting machine, these needles acting in the usual manner with the sinkers and dividers shown in Fig. 1. The details of this mechanism are not necessary for an understanding of the invention and will not be further described. Usually the yarn is led through a guide at the end of the carrier as the carrier travels back and forth lengthwise of the bank of needles.

According to my invention, instead of making the guide for the yarn fixed, as is standard practice, I make it in the form of a replaceable guide tube 6 and, in order to detachably hold this guide tube in place, so that it may be readily replaced when desired, I provide a holder in the form of an insert which I shall now describe.

Referring first to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, I have provided a carrier with the usual groove 1 for the reception of yarn, and at the lower end of this groove I preferably provide a hole 8 through the carrier, for a purpose which will presently appear. Below the hole I cut a channel or slot, the walls of which are indicated at 9, this channel forming two jaws l0 defined by the walls 9 which face each other and which will be referred to in the claims as the faces of the jaws. These faces are preferably provided with grooves ll extending lengthwise" of the jaws and parallel to each other;

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown an insert which is in the form of a sheet 7 l2 ofresilient material, for example spring steel, by which I mean'steel which may be folded as indicated, but which still has a substantial amount of resilience. In Figs. 3 and 4, this sheet is shown as being folded at I3 and I4 so as to bring its edges near each other at I5, thus forming a lower wall l6 and an upper wall l1. At the bends l3 and M the sheet is perforated to form aligned holes through which may be inserted the tube 6, which is thus held in frictional engagement with the insert. The edge portions l8 of the insert may be compressed to some such form as shown and forced into the grooves H. By this arrangement the insert is held in place in the grooves, not only by frictional contact, but additionally by the resilience of the material of which the insert is made. At the same time the walls l6 and I! are brought into closer contact with the tube 6 to aid in holding it in place, but at the same time permitting its removal.

If desired, the insert, after being put in place in the jaws I 0, may be soldered in place, since it will not need to be removed under ordinary conditions. However, when it is desired to replace the tube, all that is necessary is to insert a suitable tool in the hole 8 and push it against the upper end of the tube and force it downwardly, it being noted that preferably the tube extends into said hole, where it may be easily reached by the tool.

In Figs. '7 and 8, I have shown a different embodiment in which some parts are the same or equivalent to parts shown in Fig. 2 and which have been given similar numerals. They will not be described further. In these figures, however, the insert is shown as being formed of a sheet of material which is folded so that the two edges I9 thereof extend lengthwise of the insert and of the carrier and so that the bends 20 are disposed in the grooves ll of the jaws Ill. This form of insert operates in the same manner as the insert previously described.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I have shown still another embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is similar to what is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 except that here the upper wall I! ofthe insert is bent downwardly at right angles, to form a shoulder 2| having a hole through which the tube 6 may pass. The sheet is then bent again at I4 and is also bent at I3, this latter bend 13' having a hole therethrough in line with the hole through the shoulder 2|. In other respects this insert is closely similar to what is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, but it will be seen that a tube is thus disposed nearer the upper surface of the carrier, which may be preferred for some purposes.

While I have shown the invention in certain detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 7

I claim:

3. In a knitting machine, a yarn carrier having at its end a pair of spaced rigid jaws, the opposite inner faces of said jaws having grooves therein, an insert formed of a sheet of material folded on itself to form upper and lower walls, a guide tube frictionally and resiliently held between said walls, said walls at the opposite edges of the insert being frictionally and resiliently held within said grooves.

4. In a knitting machine, a yarn carrier having at its end a pair of spaced rigid jaws, the opposite inner faces of said jaws having grooves therein, an insert formed of a sheet of resilient material folded on itself to form upper and lower 1. In a knitting machine, a yarn carrier hav-r ing at its end a pair of spaced rigid jaws, the opposite inner faces of said jaws having grooves" therein, an insert formed of a folded sheet'of walls, a guide tube frictionally and resiliently held between said walls, said walls at the opposite edgesof the insert being frictionally and resiliently held Within said grooves.

,-5. "In a'knitting machine, a yarn carrier having a hole therethrough adjacent one end thereof and an open'slot through the carrier extending from that hole tosaid end, a holder supported by the walls of said slot, anda tube frictionally supported by said holder and slidable lengthwise thereof and having one end extending into said OTTO F. SMETANA. 

